The votes of working parents are going to be crucial in the forthcoming election. MAXINE GORDON looks at the problem of striking the right balance between work and family life.

WE all know that politicians love babies. A chance snap of an MP plonking a kiss on a ruddy-faced tot - or better still, the kid kissing the politician - is a photo opportunity not to be missed.

We can expect to see a lot of cute pictures of politicians with small children over the coming months as the family becomes a fierce battleground for votes in the General Election.

Research suggests that women - particularly those with small children - will be a key constituency of voters for parties to woo come polling day.

Labour is already making an advance on this valuable community of undecided - or 'floating' - voters by announcing plans to boost maternity rights this week.

Under Labour's proposals, new mothers will be entitled to an extra three months of maternity leave - from six months to nine months - from April 1 2007, which will be worth an added £1,400. And the aim is to extend this to 12 months' paid leave by the end of the next Parliament.

Controversially, mums may also be able to transfer some of this leave to fathers.

The proposals have already come under fire, particularly from the business community, which believe smaller firms will suffer.

Also, some commentators argue that improved maternity rights must go hand in hand with true flexibility in the workplace, where employers can help staff with children achieve a greater balance between work and family life.

Here we take a snap-shot of opinions across the issue, which looks set to fire up the nation ahead of election day.

The parents

:: Rebekah Try

Rebekah Try is a part-time branch manager of York estate agents Hunters, which was today named by The Sunday Times as one of the 100 best companies to work for in the UK.

When Rebekah had her son, Alexander, 18 months ago, she originally came back to work full-time after her maternity leave, but realised it was a mistake.

"After the first week, I knew it wasn't going to work. I missed my son so much," she said. "It was just too much - running a busy office like ours is a very pressured job. I stuck it for a month but then had a word with our human resources person to ask about the possibility of going part-time."

In the end, a job share was arranged for Rebekah with colleague James Wort.

"I genuinely feel I've got the best of both worlds," says Rebekah. "I can enjoy being a mother without having to give up the career I worked so hard for. I've been so lucky to be able to strike a balance. One part of the week I'm out meeting friends for coffee or feeding the ducks but then - come Wednesday - I'm back in the office doing the job I love."

:: Sue Trotter

Sue Trotter works part-time at Browns department store in York, which fits in around the school hours of her two daughters, Lucy, 15 and Alice, 11.

Sue says the problem of finding suitable child care isn't just one for parents of pre-school age children. For families with older children, finding cover after school and during holidays can also be problematic. She welcomes proposals by the Government to provide more after-school and holiday care for children too.

She said: "With school-age children, it does get a bit more complicated. But there are more holiday-type clubs and after-school clubs. Breakfast clubs are a great idea too.

"I feel lucky that at Browns I have a job which allows me to work 10-2 and fit in around my kids."

The employers

:: NHS

Nationally, the NHS is running a programme called the Improving Working Lives Scheme. As part of this, the York Hospital Trust and the York and Selby Primary Care Trust employ a childcare and carer co-ordinator, Lucy Townend, whose purpose is to help staff find suitable care for their dependants.

For example, the scheme has secured 75 places at nursery schools across York, dedicated to NHS staff. One nursery even offers a five per cent discount to NHS workers.

The Improving Working Lives Scheme also offers the chance of flexible working - flexitime, job share or variable hours - to all staff, most of whom are female.

Peta Hayward, human resources director at York Hospital, said: "Our philosophy is to allow people to adjust their working patterns to meet the needs of their families as well as the needs of work."

:: City of York Council

City of York Council also prides itself on leading the field in employees' rights. Its benefits for mothers are more generous than the statutory provisions and include access to flexitime, job share arrangements, increased maternity pay, more generous annual leave entitlements, child care vouchers and paid dependant care leave.

Stephen Forrest, city council human resources services manager, said: "We are pleased to apply extra benefits to working parents because we benefit in the long term through better staff retention and a happier workforce with a better work/life balance."

:: Norwich Union

Another large city employer, Norwich Union, offers various flexible working options to staff including staggered hours; compressed hours, where employees work a number of agreed hours over fewer days and 'duvet days', where up to three days annual leave can be taken with immediate notice. Staff have welcomed the policy and say it is a boost for morale and a boon for family life.

Louise Soulsby, of Norwich Union, said: "The benefits include job satisfaction and show that Norwich Union treats their workers fairly and values its employees and the importance of a work/life balance. It also aids productivity, reduces absence rates, increases motivation and reduces employee turnover."

The critics

:: Heather Causnett

York grandmother Heather Causnett is a fierce critic of working mothers and believes the Labour party's emphasis is wrong.

She said: "In attempting to woo women voters, they will certainly create further problems for small businesses.

"I am sick and tired of reading about how difficult it is for women to juggle home and work life; all they have to do is get their priorities right and start to concentrate on what is really important, like being there for their families and leaving Britain's businesses to get on with making good.

"Surely it is not too much to ask to put their babies' and young children's needs first for a few years, without being paid to do it? How can women expect to take months off work and drift back when they feel like it, leaving employers to fill the vacancies they leave until that happens?"

:: Len Cruddas

Len Cruddas, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, is also concerned about the Government's proposals for small businesses.

He said: "We are genuinely supportive of the proposals but we must have some regard for the needs of business, particularly small business.

"There are quite a few knock-on effects if you are a business in, for example, the hi-tech sector with specialist staff. To recruit temporary staff with these skills is very difficult, and often you have to do it through a sub-contractor or agency for which you pay a premium.

"Like so many things, this will have a disproportionate affect on the smaller business."

Updated: 10:17 Friday, March 04, 2005